WO2009154095A1

WO2009154095A1 - Magnetic field sensor device

Info

Publication number: WO2009154095A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/060436
Authority: WO
Inventors: 康彦長▲崎▼; 俊文松岡; 章齋藤; 宏一奥住
Original assignee: 独立行政法人石油天然ガス・金属鉱物資源機構; 国立大学法人京都大学
Priority date: 2008-06-16
Filing date: 2009-06-08
Publication date: 2009-12-23
Also published as: US20110133733A1; PE20110437A1; AU2009261302A1; RU2497140C2; AU2009261302B2; JP5492389B2; JP2009300331A; EP2290389A1; US8610429B2; MX2010013823A; CA2734623C; RU2011101412A; CA2734623A1

Abstract

Provided is a magnetic field sensor device (1) having a sensor section (100) which includes a magnetic impedance element (110) having a magnetic noncrystalline structural body. The electromagnetic sensor device has, in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic noncrystalline structural body, bar-like core sections (130, 131) which lead a magnetic field to the magnetic noncrystalline structural body. The core sections (130, 131) may be arranged on the both sides on the magnetic noncrystalline structural body in the longitudinal direction. The core sections (130, 131) may be arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the magnetic noncrystalline structural body and the longitudinal direction of the core sections (130, 131) are on the same straight line. The magnetic field sensor device may include environmental magnetic field offsetting means (140, 141) which generate a correction magnetic field that offsets an environmental magnetic field inputted to the magnetic noncrystalline structural body.

Description

Magnetic field sensor device

The present invention relates to a magnetic field sensor device.

In recent years, it has been discovered that the impedance of a magnetic amorphous material is changed by an external magnetic field, and a magneto-impedance element (MI element; Magneto-Impedance device) has been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-181239 discloses a magnetic impedance element. And the magnetic detection apparatus using this magneto-impedance element is developed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-121517 and “Magnetic Sensor Science and Engineering” (written by Toshio Mouri, Corona Co., Ltd., March 10, 1998, p. 92-101) describe a magnetism using a magnetic impedance element. A detection device is described.

Also, the electromagnetic exploration method that uses the electromagnetic induction phenomenon for underground exploration has been widely used for exploration of resources such as mines, geothermal, and oil, and underground structure investigations. Various techniques have been developed as such an electromagnetic exploration method, and in particular, a technique for artificially generating an electromagnetic field in the basement and conducting an underground exploration has been put into practical use today. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-71828 describes an underground electromagnetic exploration method for obtaining a geological structure of a natural ground.

One of the typical underground electromagnetic exploration methods is the TDEM method (Time Domain Electromagnetic Method). In the TDEM method, an induction current generating transmission source is installed on the ground, and an alternating direct current having an on / off time is generally applied to the induction current generating transmission source. When the current flowing through the transmission source for generating the induced current is suddenly interrupted, the induced current flows to the ground surface so as to prevent the magnetic field formed so far from changing according to the law of electromagnetic induction.

This induced current diffuses toward the deep underground with time. Since the induced current attenuates according to the specific resistance of the current path, by measuring the magnetic field generated by the induced current on the ground surface as a function of time, the underground specific resistance distribution can be examined.

In conventional underground electromagnetic surveys, it was common to use induction coils as magnetic field sensors. However, the induction coil used in underground electromagnetic survey was large (for example, 1 m or more in length and 10 kg in weight or more). For this reason, it is difficult to carry out measurements at a large number of places in a short period of time due to the difficulty of transportation and installation, which hinders the improvement of the measurement efficiency of underground electromagnetic exploration.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a magnetic field sensor device suitable for underground electromagnetic exploration.

(1) A magnetic field sensor device according to the present invention includes:
In a magnetic field sensor device having a sensor unit including a magneto-impedance element having a magnetic amorphous structure,
In the longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous structure, the magnetic amorphous structure has a rod-shaped core portion that guides a magnetic field to the magnetic amorphous structure.

According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor device by having the rod-shaped core portion in the longitudinal direction (magnetic field measurement direction) of the magnetic amorphous structure having the highest magnetic field sensitivity. Thus, a magnetic field sensor device that can be made smaller and lighter than that can be realized.

(2) In this magnetic field sensor device,
The core portion may be provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous structure.

By providing the core portions on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous structure, a magnetic field can be efficiently guided to the magnetic amorphous structure.

(3) In this magnetic field sensor device,
The core portion may be arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous structure and the longitudinal direction of the core portion are on the same straight line.

(4) In this magnetic field sensor device,
The core portion may be made of a high magnetic permeability material.

(5) In this magnetic field sensor device,
The high magnetic permeability material may be mu metal.

The high magnetic permeability material may be ferrite, for example.

(6) In this magnetic field sensor device,
An environmental magnetic field canceling unit that generates a correction magnetic field that cancels the environmental magnetic field input to the magnetic amorphous structure may be included.

環境 By canceling the environmental magnetic field, the magnetic field to be observed can be accurately observed.

(7) In this magnetic field sensor device,
The environmental magnetic field canceling means may be a coil having the core portion as an axis.

(8) In this magnetic field sensor device,
An adjusting means for controlling the environmental magnetic field canceling means may be included so that the observation data falls within a desired range.

(9) In this magnetic field sensor device,
An observation means for observing a magnetic field including a magnetic field signal based on an output of a transmission source for generating an induced current over time;
Storage means for storing observation data observed by the observation means;
The observation data falls within a desired range based on a value obtained by integrating the observation data stored in the storage means in a period in which the integral value of the magnetic field signal based on the output of the transmission source for generating the induced current is zero. As described above, correction means for correcting the reference value of the observation data may be included.

For example, when the value obtained by integrating the observation data over a period that is an integral multiple of the output cycle exceeds the upper reference value, the correction means performs control to lower the reference value of the measurement data, and the observation data is multiplied by an integral multiple of the output cycle. When the value integrated over the period falls below the lower limit reference value, control for increasing the reference value of the measurement data may be performed.

This makes it possible to automatically correct the amount of time variation of observation data due to time variation of geomagnetism, so that the magnetic impedance element is not saturated. Therefore, automatic measurement becomes possible.

(10) In this magnetic field sensor,
The period in which the integrated value of the magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source is 0 may be a period that is an integral multiple of the output period of the induced current generating transmission source that outputs alternating direct current.

In the period when the integrated value of the magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source is 0, for example, the induced current generating transmission source is an alternating direct current (the positive output in the first half of the cycle and the negative output in the second half of the cycle are In the case of outputting a symmetric signal), it is a period that is an integral multiple of the output period of the induced current generating transmission source, or the output period is divided into four parts at equal time from the first period to the fourth period. A combination of the first section and the third section or a combination of the second section and the fourth section can be used.

(11) In this magnetic field sensor device,
Amplifying means for amplifying the output signal of the sensor unit;
The correction unit may control an offset amount of the amplification unit.

(12) In this magnetic field sensor device,
Including synchronization means for acquiring time data synchronized with the output of the induction current generating transmission source;
The storage means may store the observation data and the time data in association with each other.

(13) In this magnetic field sensor device,
The synchronization means may acquire time data synchronized with the output of the induced current generating transmission source by acquiring time information included in GPS information.

(14) In this magnetic field sensor device,
A stack for averaging a plurality of cycles of the observation data in the first half of the output cycle of the induced current generating transmission source that outputs alternating direct current and the data obtained by adding the sign inversion data of the observation data in the second half of the output cycle Including stack processing means for processing,
The observation unit may end the observation based on a noise level of the data after the stack processing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the magnetic field sensor device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the sensor unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the sensor unit. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an experimental example for confirming an increase in sensitivity. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a drive circuit. FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the recording unit. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of an arrangement example when the magnetic field sensor device is used for underground electromagnetic exploration. FIG. 8 is a timing chart of the output current, back electromotive force, and magnetic field of the induced current generating transmission source in the underground electromagnetic exploration method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a magnetic field observation flow in the underground electromagnetic exploration method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow in the environmental magnetic field canceling step in the underground electromagnetic exploration method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a graph showing an example of an experimental example in which the magnitude of the correction magnetic field is determined. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining the correction process. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the correction process. FIG. 14 is a graph showing an example of data after the stack processing step.

Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Moreover, this invention shall include what combined the following content freely.

1. Magnetic Field Sensor Device FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a magnetic field sensor device according to the present embodiment.

The magnetic field sensor device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a sensor unit 100 and a processing unit 200. In order to simplify the description, one sensor unit 100 and one processing unit 200 are shown in FIG. 1, but a configuration having a plurality of sensor units for one recording unit may be used.

The sensor unit 100 includes a magneto-impedance element having a magnetic amorphous structure. In addition, the sensor unit 100 detects a magnetic field and transmits an output signal based on the detected magnitude of the magnetic field to the processing unit 200.

The processing unit 200 receives the output signal from the sensor unit 100, performs given signal processing, and then records it as observation data. In addition, various controls are performed on the sensor unit 100.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the sensor unit 100.

The sensor unit 100 includes a magneto-impedance element 110 having a magnetic amorphous structure. The magneto-impedance element 110 detects a magnetic field in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the magneto-impedance element 110 detects a magnetic field in the vertical direction (arrow direction) in FIG. In the present embodiment, the length of the magneto-impedance element 110 in the longitudinal direction is about 4 mm.

The sensor unit 100 includes a drive circuit 120. The drive circuit 120 is a circuit for driving the magneto-impedance element 110 and outputting an output signal to the processing unit 200. The sensor unit 100 may include a measurement coil 111 that is a part of the drive circuit 120 around the magnetic impedance element 110.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the drive circuit 120. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the circuit is centered on the Colpitts oscillation circuit 121 including the magneto-impedance element 110. The Colpitts oscillation circuit 121 includes

coils

111a, 111b, and 111c that become the measurement coil 111, a transistor 112, a resistor 113,

capacitors

114 and 115, and a variable resistor 116.

In this circuit, the amplitude of the resonance voltage of the Colpitts oscillation circuit 121 is amplitude-modulated by the magnetic field H. The amplitude-modulated voltage is detected through the Schottky barrier diode D. Thereafter, the difference voltage from the zero-point setting DC bias voltage Vb is amplified, and the output voltage Vout is output as an output signal. The output voltage Vout is fed back to the Colpitts oscillation circuit 121. As a result, the drive circuit 120 having high linearity and no hysteresis is realized.

The sensor unit 100 includes rod-shaped

core units

130 and 131. The

core parts

130 and 131 are provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the magneto-impedance element 110 having a magnetic amorphous structure. The

core portions

130 and 131 have a function of guiding a magnetic field to the magnetic amorphous structure of the magnetoimpedance element 110. The

core portions

130 and 131 may be made of a high magnetic permeability material (for example, mu metal or ferrite).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the sensor unit 100 of the magnetic field sensor device 1 according to the present embodiment. The sensor unit 100 includes a case 1000. The case 1000 includes

cylindrical portions

1001 and 1002 and a sensor support portion 1100. The case 1000 has a total length of 250 mm and a diameter of 76 mm.

In addition, a sensor substrate 1200 including a magneto-impedance element 110 having a magnetic amorphous structure and a driving circuit 120 is installed on the support unit 1100, and

core units

130 and 131 are installed inside the

cylindrical units

1001 and 1002, respectively. . The magneto-impedance element 110 and the

core portions

130 and 131 are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the magneto-impedance element 110 and the longitudinal direction of the

core portions

130 and 131 are on the same straight line.

In the present embodiment, the

core portions

130 and 131 are made of mu metal having a permeability of about 10,000. The

core portions

130 and 131 each have a length in the longitudinal direction of about 12 cm and a diameter of about 5 mm. As a result, the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor can be increased by about 300 times compared to the case where the

core portions

130 and 131 are not provided.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing an experimental example for confirming an increase in sensitivity due to the provision of the

core portions

130 and 131. In this experiment, a magnetic field sensor device is used in which the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor device by the combination of the magneto-impedance element 110 and the drive circuit 120 is 0.0048 mV / nT.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the output voltage when the

core portions

130 and 131 are provided in the magnetic field sensor device and an input magnetic field having a magnetic field intensity of 1727.6 nT is input. It can be seen from the graph of FIG. 4 that the output voltage of the magnetic field sensor device is 3.660V−0.848V = 2.812V. Therefore, it can be seen that the amplification factor of sensitivity by providing the

core portions

130 and 131 is (2.812 × 1000 / 0.0048) /1727.6=327.7 (times).

Thus, by having the rod-shaped

core portions

130 and 131, the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor device can be increased, and further, a magnetic field sensor device that can be made smaller and lighter than a conventional induction coil can be realized.

The sensor unit 100 may include environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 that generate a correction magnetic field that cancels the environmental magnetic field input to the magnetic amorphous structure of the magnetic impedance element 110. In the present embodiment, the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 are each configured by a coil having the

core portion

130 or 131 as an axis.

Further, the magnetic field sensor device 1 may include adjusting means for controlling the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 so that the observation data is within a desired range. In the present embodiment, the processing unit 200 includes the function of the adjusting means. A configuration example of the processing unit 200 will be described later.

The magnetic impedance element 110 detects not the amount of change (time differentiation) of the magnetic field but the magnitude of the magnetic field itself. In addition, an environmental magnetic field by normal geomagnetism exists at a magnetic flux density of about 0.5 gauss. Therefore, for example, when the detection sensitivity is set to 300 times by the

core portions

130 and 131, the magneto-impedance element 110 detects an environmental magnetic field of about 150 gauss.

The detection range of the magnetic field sensor device is determined by the combination of the magnetic impedance element 110 and the drive circuit 120. In the combination of the commercially available magneto-impedance element 110 and the drive circuit 120, for example, there exists an element whose detection range is designed with a magnetic flux density of ± 3 gauss. In this case, if the detection sensitivity is increased by 300 times by the

core units

130 and 131, the drive circuit 120 is saturated only by the environmental magnetic field due to geomagnetism, and the measurement of the magnetic field becomes impossible.

Therefore, by canceling the environmental magnetic field input to the magnetic amorphous structure of the magnetic impedance element 110 by the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141, the observation is performed within the detection range determined by the combination of the magnetic impedance element 110 and the drive circuit 120. Data can be stored.

In particular, when the magnetic field signal to be observed is smaller than the environmental magnetic field due to geomagnetism, the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 cancel the environmental magnetic field so that the environmental magnetic field level due to geomagnetism becomes the center of the detection range. The magnetic field signal can be measured with high accuracy.

The environmental magnetic field is canceled by the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 generating a magnetic field opposite to the environmental magnetic field by the geomagnetism. In particular, the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 generate a correction magnetic field having the same magnitude as that of the environmental magnetic field by the geomagnetism in the reverse direction, thereby canceling the environmental magnetic field so that the level of the environmental magnetic field by the geomagnetism becomes the center of the detection range. can do.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing unit 200.

The processing unit 200 may include an arithmetic processing device 220. The arithmetic processing unit 220 acquires observation data, controls the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141, writes observation data to the storage means 240 described later, and other various arithmetic processes.

Further, the arithmetic processing unit 200 may function as an adjusting unit that controls the environmental magnetic

field canceling units

140 and 141 via the D / A converter 217.

The processing unit 200 receives the output signal Vout of the drive circuit 120 and, if necessary, the arithmetic processing unit 220 via the amplifier 210, the high-pass filter 211, the notch filter 212, the low-pass filter 213, the amplifier 214, and the A / D converter 215. To enter. For example, environmental noise caused by a power source such as 50 Hz or 60 Hz may be cut by the notch filter 212, or a signal having a frequency twice or more the sampling frequency may be cut by the low-pass filter 213.

The processing unit 200 may include a precision clock 230. The precision clock 230 is a high precision timepiece, and may be a timepiece having an accuracy of 10 ⁻⁹ , for example.

In the present embodiment, the arithmetic processing unit 220 and the precision clock 230, and an amplifier 210, a high-pass filter 211, a notch filter 212, a low-pass filter 213, an amplifier 214, and an A / D converter 215 are used as necessary. It functions as an observation means 250 for observing the magnetic field over time. For example, when the magnetic field sensor device 1 according to the present embodiment is used for underground electromagnetic exploration using an induced current generating transmission source, a magnetic field including a magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source is changed over time. It functions as observation means 250 for observation.

The processing unit 200 may include a storage unit 240. The storage unit 240 stores the observation data observed by the observation unit 250. The storage unit 240 may be configured to be removable like a memory card, or may be configured to incorporate a hard disk or the like in the processing unit 200. When observation data of a large value and a small value is input beyond the measurable range determined by the dynamic range of the amplification means (amplifier 214 in the present embodiment) that amplifies the output signal of the sensor unit 100, You may memorize | store in the memory | storage means 240 as the maximum value and minimum value of a measurable range, respectively.

The arithmetic processing unit 220 also obtains the desired observation data based on a value obtained by integrating the observation data stored in the storage unit 240 in a period in which the integrated value of the magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source is zero. It may function as a correction means for correcting the reference value of the observation data so that it falls within the range of.

The correction means may automatically control the reference value of the observation data by controlling the offset amount of the amplification means that amplifies the output signal of the sensor unit 100, for example. In the present embodiment, the amplifier 214 functions as an amplifying unit that amplifies the output voltage Vout of the sensor unit 100, and the arithmetic processing device 220 controls the offset amount of the amplifier 214 via the D / A converter 216. The reference value of data is controlled.

For example, when the magnetic field sensor device 1 according to the present embodiment is used for underground electromagnetic exploration using an induced current generating transmission source, the correction means uses observation data stored in the storage means 240 as an integer multiple of the output period. When the value integrated over the period of time exceeds the upper reference value, control is performed to lower the reference value of the measured data, and when the value obtained by integrating the observation data over a period that is an integral multiple of the output period falls below the lower reference value. May perform control to increase the reference value of the measurement data.

This makes it possible to automatically correct the amount of time variation of observation data due to the influence of time variation of geomagnetism, so that the sensor unit 100 and the observation means 250 are not saturated. Therefore, automatic measurement becomes possible.

When the magnetic field sensor device 1 according to the present embodiment is used for underground electromagnetic exploration using an induction current generation transmission source, the processing unit 200 acquires time data synchronized with the output of the induction current generation transmission source. Synchronization means may be included. In the present embodiment, by acquiring time information included in GPS (Global Positioning System) information with a GPS (Global Positioning System) clock 231, time data synchronized with the output of the induction current generating transmission source is acquired. be able to.

Further, the storage means 240 may store observation data and time data in association with each other. This facilitates analysis of observation data when the magnetic field sensor device 1 is used for underground electromagnetic exploration.

The processing unit 200 may be connected to the input unit 300 and the output unit 310. The input unit 300 and the output unit 310 input / output commands and data. The input means 300 may be a keyboard. The output unit 310 may be a display (monitor).

2. The underground electromagnetic exploration method using the magnetic field sensor device 1 The underground electromagnetic exploration method using the magnetic field sensor device 1 will be described. Various methods have been developed for the underground electromagnetic exploration method. In this embodiment, an underground electromagnetic exploration method in which an electromagnetic field is artificially generated in the underground to perform the underground exploration will be described.

Also, as such an underground electromagnetic exploration method, there are known a frequency domain underground electromagnetic exploration method that treats an electromagnetic response as a function of frequency and a time domain underground electromagnetic exploration method that treats an electromagnetic response as a function of time. The frequency domain and the time domain are a pair of Fourier transforms and are theoretically equivalent. In the present embodiment, a TDEM method (Time Domain Electromagnetic Method), which is a time domain underground electromagnetic exploration method, will be described.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of an arrangement example when the magnetic field sensor device 1 is used for underground electromagnetic exploration.

The magnetic field sensor device 1 is disposed on the ground surface. In order to fix the position and inclination of the magnetic field sensor device 1, the magnetic field sensor device 1 may be disposed in a recess provided on the ground surface.

The induction current generating transmission source 2 is arranged on the ground surface. In addition, a transmission loop 3 for causing the output current of the induced current generating transmission source 2 to flow and generating an induced current in the ground is also disposed on the ground surface. In the present embodiment, an induced current is generated in the ground by the induced current generating transmission source 2 and the transmission loop 3. Note that the distance between the magnetic field sensor device 1 and the transmission loop 3 can be arbitrarily set according to the purpose of the underground electromagnetic survey. In the present embodiment, the magnetic field sensor device 1 is arranged at a distance of about 0 km to 15 km from the transmission loop 3.

8A to 8C show the output current I of the induced current generating transmission source 2 in the underground electromagnetic survey method according to the present embodiment, the back electromotive force P after the output current current is cut off, and the output current current after the cut off. It is a timing chart of the magnetic field H. The output current I is alternating DC (a signal in which the positive output in the first half of the cycle and the negative output in the second half of the cycle are symmetrical), and the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7 is positive.

First, as shown in FIG. 8A, a positive output current I is outputted from the induction current generating transmission source 2 to the transmission loop 3. Next, the output current I is suddenly cut off. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, a counter electromotive force is generated to maintain the same magnetic field before the interruption according to the law of electromagnetic induction, and an induced current is generated on the ground surface. Thereafter, a negative output current I is output from the induction current generating transmission source 2 to the transmission loop 3. Next, the output current I is suddenly cut off. Such an operation is repeated at a period T.

This induced current on the ground surface attenuates according to the specific resistance of the ground, but a new induced current is generated in the ground that prevents this current change. This process is repeated, and a phenomenon occurs in which the induced current 500 propagates to the induced current 501 and the induced current 502 deep underground.

These induction currents attenuate according to the specific resistance of the current path formation. For this reason, using the magnetic field sensor device 1 installed on the ground surface, it is possible to detect the attenuation of the induced current as the time change of the magnetic field as shown in FIG. For example, when the underground has a high resistivity, the induced current decays rapidly, but when the underground has a low resistivity, it slowly decays.

Therefore, while moving the magnetic field sensor devices 1 one after another according to the measurement points, or by installing a plurality of magnetic field sensor devices 1 at the respective measurement points, collecting observation data and analyzing the observation data, The specific resistance distribution can be obtained. The underground structure can be known based on this resistivity distribution.

That is, magnetic field observation including an observation step of observing a magnetic field based on an induced current by the magnetic field sensor device 1 and a storage step of storing observation data of the magnetic field based on the induced current is performed at a plurality of measurement points provided on the ground surface. It is possible to know the underground structure by repeating and calculating the underground resistivity distribution based on the observation data at each measurement point.

In addition, as a magnetic field sensor device, a sensor unit 100 including a magneto-impedance element 110 having a magnetic amorphous structure as a core, and a rod shape for guiding a magnetic field to the magnetic amorphous structure in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous structure. By using the magnetic field sensor device 1 having the

core portions

130 and 131, it is possible to realize a magnetic field sensor device that can be reduced in size and weight compared to the conventional induction coil. Underground electromagnetic exploration can be performed.

When the magnetic field sensor device 1 includes environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 that generate a correction magnetic field that cancels the environmental magnetic field input to the magnetic amorphous structure, the observed value of the magnetic field falls within a desired range. As described above, an environmental magnetic field canceling step of generating a correction magnetic field that cancels the environmental magnetic field input to the magnetic amorphous structure may be included. The environmental magnetic field canceling step may be performed, for example, before the observation step.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a magnetic field observation flow in the underground electromagnetic exploration method according to the present embodiment.

First, an environmental magnetic field canceling step of generating a correction magnetic field that cancels the environmental magnetic field input to the magnetic amorphous structure is performed by the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 so that the observed value falls within a desired range ( Step S100).

Next, an observation step of observing the magnetic field based on the induced current is performed by the observation means 250 (step S110). Next, a storage step of storing observation data is performed by the storage unit 240 (step S120).

Next, it is determined whether or not the magnetic field observation is finished (step S130). Whether or not the magnetic field observation has ended is determined by, for example, whether or not a predetermined number of observation steps have been executed, whether or not the observation step has been executed in a predetermined time, and whether or not an observation end command has been input. Also good.

If it is determined in step S130 that the magnetic field observation has not been completed, the process returns to step S110, and steps S110 to S130 are repeated until the observation is completed. If it is determined in step S130 that the magnetic field observation has been completed, the magnetic field observation flow is ended.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow in the environmental magnetic field canceling step in the underground electromagnetic exploration method according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the relationship between the reference voltages V1 and V2 is 0 <V2 <V1, and the relationship between the correction magnetic field change widths δ1 and δ2 is 0 <δ2 <δ1. The direction of the correction magnetic field is positive when it is opposite to the geomagnetism. Note that the change width and the number of change steps of the correction magnetic field can be arbitrarily set as necessary.

When the environmental magnetic field canceling process starts, the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 generate a correction magnetic field with a preset initial value (step S200). The initial value may be 0 (a state in which no correction magnetic field is generated).

Next, the magnetic field is observed for a predetermined time by the observation means 250 of the magnetic field sensor device 1 (step S202). Next, the average value Va of the observation data stored in the storage means 240 is calculated based on the output voltage Vout of the drive circuit 120 of the sensor unit 100 within a predetermined time (step S204). The average value Va is calculated by the arithmetic processing unit 220 of the processing unit 200, for example. When observation data of a large value and a small value is input beyond the measurable range determined by the dynamic range of the amplification means (amplifier 214 in the present embodiment) that amplifies the output signal of the sensor unit 100, You may memorize | store in the memory | storage means 240 as the maximum value and minimum value of a measurable range, respectively.

Next, it is determined whether or not the average value Va is greater than 0 (step S206). In the following description, it is assumed that all determination processes are performed by the arithmetic processing unit 220.

When it is determined in step S206 that the average value Va is greater than 0, it is determined whether or not the average value Va is smaller than the reference voltage V1 (step S208). When it is determined that the average value Va is not smaller than the reference voltage V1, the arithmetic processing unit 220 performs control to increase the magnitude of the correction magnetic field by the change width δ1 (step S308), and returns to step S202.

When it is determined in step S208 that the average value Va is smaller than the reference voltage V1, it is determined whether or not the average value Va is smaller than the reference voltage V2 (step S210). If it is determined that the average value Va is not smaller than the reference voltage V2, the arithmetic processing unit 220 performs control to increase the magnitude of the correction magnetic field by the change width δ2 (step S310), and returns to step S202.

If it is determined in step S210 that the average value Va is smaller than the reference voltage V2, the magnitude of the correction magnetic field is determined, and the process ends. That is, the average value Va satisfies the relationship 0 <Va <V2 at the end of processing.

When it is determined in step S206 that the average value Va is 0 or less, it is determined whether or not the average value Va is larger than the reference voltage (−V1) (step S212). When it is determined that the average value Va is not larger than the reference voltage (−V1), the arithmetic processing unit 220 performs control to reduce the magnitude of the correction magnetic field by the change width δ1 (step S312), and step S202. Return to.

If it is determined in step S212 that the average value Va is greater than the reference voltage (−V1), it is determined whether or not the average value Va is greater than the reference voltage (−V2) (step S214). If it is determined that the average value Va is not larger than the reference voltage (−V2), the arithmetic processing unit 220 performs control to reduce the magnitude of the correction magnetic field by the change width δ2 (step S314), and step S202. Return to.

If it is determined in step S214 that the average value Va is larger than the reference voltage (−V2), the magnitude of the correction magnetic field is determined, and the process ends. That is, the average value Va satisfies the relationship −V2 <Va <0 at the end of processing.

That is, in the flow in the environmental magnetic field canceling step shown in FIG. 10, the average value Va satisfies the relationship −V2 <Va <V2 at the end of processing. Further, when the average value Va is far from 0, control is performed to change the magnitude of the correction magnetic field with a large change width δ1, and after the average value Va falls within the range of −V1 <Va <V1, a small fluctuation width δ2 is set. The control to change the magnitude of the correction magnetic field is performed. As a result, the magnitude of the correction magnetic field for quickly and accurately keeping the average value Va within the range of −V2 <Va <V2 can be determined.

FIGS. 11A to 11C are schematic diagrams for determining the magnitude of the correction magnetic field based on the flow of FIG. 11A shows observation data input to the arithmetic processing unit 220, FIG. 11B shows storage data stored in the storage means 240, and FIG. 11C shows the magnitude of the correction magnetic field. In each of FIGS. 11A to 11C, the horizontal axis represents time. Further, it is assumed that the measurable upper limit value of the magnetic field sensor device 1 is Vu, the measurable lower limit value is Vd, and the relationship of Vd <−V1 <−V2 <0 <V2 <V1 <Vu is satisfied.

In the period t1, a correction magnetic field with an initial value set in advance is generated by the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141, and the magnetic field is observed for a predetermined time by the observation means 250 of the magnetic field sensor device 1 (step S200, S202). In the example shown in FIG. 11, the initial value of the correction magnetic field is 0 (a state where no correction magnetic field is generated).

In the period t1 in the example shown in FIG. 11A, all of the observation data is equal to or higher than the measurable upper limit value Vu. Therefore, since all the stored data is Vu, the average value Va satisfies the relationship 0 <V1 <Va. Therefore, the arithmetic processing unit 220 performs control to increase the correction magnetic field by the change amount δ1 (steps S204, S206, S208, and S308).

In the period t2, a correction magnetic field with a value changed based on the observation result in the period t1 is generated by the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141, and the magnetic field is observed by the observation means 250 of the magnetic field sensor device 1 for a predetermined time. (Step S202).

During period t2, a part of the observation data is equal to or higher than the measurable upper limit value Vu. In the example shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the average value Va still satisfies the relationship 0 <V1 <Va. Therefore, also in this case, the arithmetic processing unit 220 performs control to increase the correction magnetic field by the change amount δ1 (steps S204, S206, S208, and S308).

In the period t3, a correction magnetic field with a value changed based on the observation result in the period t2 is generated by the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141, and the magnetic field is observed by the observation means 250 of the magnetic field sensor device 1 for a predetermined time. (Step S202).

During period t3, part of the observation data is below the measurable lower limit value Vd. In the example shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the average value Va still satisfies the relationship −V1 <Va <0. In this case, the arithmetic processing device 220 performs control to decrease the correction magnetic field by the change amount δ2 (steps S204, S206, S212, S214, and S314).

In the period t4, a correction magnetic field with a value changed based on the observation result in the period t3 is generated by the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141, and the magnetic field is observed by the observation means 250 of the magnetic field sensor device 1 for a predetermined time. (Step S202).

During the period t4, all of the observation data is in the range from the measurable lower limit value Vd to the measurable upper limit value Vu. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the average value Va is assumed to satisfy the relationship 0 <Va <V2. In this case, the arithmetic processing unit 220 determines the magnitude of the correction magnetic field and ends the environmental magnetic field canceling process (steps S204, S206, S208, and S210). In a subsequent period t5, the environmental magnetic field canceling means 140 and 141 generate a correction magnetic field having the same magnitude as that in the period t4.

By canceling out the environmental magnetic field in this way, the magnetic field to be observed can be efficiently observed. In addition, automation of the environmental magnetic field canceling process is facilitated.

In the underground electromagnetic exploration method according to the present embodiment, magnetic field observation data including a magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source is used as the magnetic field based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source of the induced current generating transmission source 2. A correction step for correcting the reference value of the observation data may be further included so that the observation data falls within a desired range based on the value integrated in the period when the integral value of the signal is zero.

In the correction step, for example, the magnetic field sensor device 1 has a correction unit, and the correction unit controls the offset value of the amplification unit that amplifies the output signal of the sensor unit 100 to automatically control the reference value of the observation data. Good. In the present embodiment, the amplifier 214 functions as an amplifying unit that amplifies the output voltage Vout of the sensor unit 100, and the arithmetic processing unit 220 controls the offset amount of the amplifier 214 via the D / A converter 216. The reference value of data is controlled.

For example, when the magnetic field sensor device 1 according to the present embodiment is used for underground electromagnetic exploration using an induction current generation transmission source, the correction unit transmits the observation data stored in the storage unit 240 to induction current generation transmission. When the value integrated over the integral multiple of the output cycle of the source 2 exceeds the upper reference value, control is performed to lower the reference value of the measured data, and the observation data is an integer of the output cycle of the transmission source 2 for generating the induced current When the value integrated in the double period falls below the lower limit reference value, control for increasing the reference value of the measurement data may be performed.

The control of the reference value of the observation data can be performed, for example, during a period in which the induced current generating transmission source 2 supplies the output current to the transmission loop 3.

12 (A) to 12 (F) and FIGS. 13 (A) to 13 (B) are schematic diagrams for explaining the correction process. The horizontal axis is all time. The integration period is set to be the same as the output cycle of the induction current generating transmission source 2.

Fig. 12 (A) shows observation data before performing the correction process. The observation data includes random noise shown in FIG. 12 (B), a magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source 2 shown in FIG. 12 (C), and temporal variation and observation of geomagnetism shown in FIG. 12 (D). It is considered that the three components of the drift amount due to the influence of the circuit of the means 250 are summed up.

When the random noise shown in FIG. 12B and the magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source 2 shown in FIG. Become. Therefore, when the observation data shown in FIG. 12A is integrated with the output period of the induced current generating transmission source 2, the drift amount due to the time variation of the geomagnetism shown in FIG. Only the integral value can be calculated.

When the integral value exceeds the upper limit reference value Iu or falls below the lower limit reference value Id, the correction means performs a process of changing the reference value of the observation data. The upper limit reference value Iu and the lower limit reference value Id are determined so that the observation data falls within the measurable upper limit value Vu and the measurable lower limit value between Vd in consideration of the magnitude of random noise and the integration period. In the example shown in FIG. 12E, the integral value exceeds the upper limit reference value Iu in the period T4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12F, the correction means performs a process of lowering the reference value of the observation data by ΔV after the period T5.

FIG. 13A shows the same observation data as FIG. 12A, and FIG. 13B shows the observation data after the correction process. The observation data shown in FIG. 13A includes data that exceeds the measurable upper limit value Vu after the period T5. However, by performing the correction process, as shown in FIG. 13B, the measurement data can be set so that the measurable upper limit value Vu and the measurable lower limit value are between Vd.

The underground electromagnetic exploration method according to the present embodiment includes a synchronization process for acquiring time data synchronized with the output of the transmission source 2 for generating induced current, and in the storage process (step S120 in FIG. 9), the observation data, the time data, May be stored in association with each other. The synchronization process may be performed, for example, before the observation process (step S110 in FIG. 9) or may be performed as appropriate during the observation process.

In the present embodiment, a GPS (Global Positioning System) clock is provided in the magnetic field sensor device 1 and the induced current generation transmission source 2, and each acquires time information included in GPS (Global Positioning System) information. Time data in which the magnetic field sensor device 1 and the output of the induction current generating transmission source 2 are synchronized can be acquired.

Thus, the observation data can be easily analyzed by associating and storing the time data and the observation data in which the magnetic field sensor device 1 and the output of the induced current generating transmission source 2 are synchronized.

The underground electromagnetic survey method according to the present embodiment may include a stack processing step. The stack process is a process of averaging a plurality of cycles of the observation data in the first half of the output cycle T of the transmission source 2 for generating induced current and the data obtained by adding the sign inversion data of the observation data in the second half of the output cycle T for a plurality of cycles. It is.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing an example of data after the stack processing step. Data in which stack processing is performed using observation data for 1 period, 2 periods, 4 periods, 8 periods, 16 periods, 32 periods, 64 periods, and 81 periods in order from the top of FIG. It is. It can be seen that the noise level is halved each time the amount of observation data (number of cycles) used for stack processing is quadrupled.

Thus, by including the stack processing step, random noise can be canceled and measurement accuracy can be improved. In addition, it is possible to automate the end of measurement by monitoring the noise level after the stack processing step.

The present invention includes configurations that are substantially the same as the configurations described in the embodiments (for example, configurations that have the same functions, methods, and results, or configurations that have the same objects and effects). In addition, the invention includes a configuration in which a non-essential part of the configuration described in the embodiment is replaced. In addition, the present invention includes a configuration that achieves the same effect as the configuration described in the embodiment or a configuration that can achieve the same object. Further, the invention includes a configuration in which a known technique is added to the configuration described in the embodiment.

For example, in the present embodiment, the induced current is generated using the transmission loop 3, but the induced current is generated by installing a plurality of electrodes on the ground surface and passing the current between the electrodes through the ground. It may be generated.

1. Magnetic field sensor device, 2. Induction current generating transmission source, 3. Transmission loop, 100 sensor section, 110 magnetic impedance element, 111, 111a, 111b, 111c measuring coil, 112 transistor, 113 resistance, 114, 115 capacitor, 116 variable Resistance, 120 drive circuit, 121 Colpitts oscillation circuit, 130, 131 core section, 140, 141 environmental magnetic field canceling means, 200 recording section, 210 amplifier, 211 high pass filter, 212 notch filter, 213 low pass filter, 214 amplifier, 215 A / D converter, 216, 217 D / A converter, 220 arithmetic processing unit, 230 precision clock, 231 GPS clock, 240 storage means, 250 observation means, 300 input means, 310 output means 500, 501 and 502 induced current, 1000 cases, 1001 and 1002 a cylindrical part, 1100 sensor support section, 1200 the sensor substrate

Claims

In a magnetic field sensor device having a sensor unit including a magneto-impedance element having a magnetic amorphous structure,
A magnetic field sensor device comprising a rod-shaped core portion for guiding a magnetic field to the magnetic amorphous structure in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous structure.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1.
The magnetic field sensor device, wherein the core portion is provided on both sides of the magnetic amorphous structure in the longitudinal direction.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 2.
The magnetic field sensor device, wherein the core portion is arranged so that a longitudinal direction of the magnetic amorphous structure and a longitudinal direction of the core portion are on the same straight line.
The magnetic field sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The magnetic field sensor device, wherein the core portion is made of a high permeability material.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 4.
The magnetic field sensor device, wherein the high magnetic permeability material is mu metal.
The magnetic field sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A magnetic field sensor device comprising environmental magnetic field canceling means for generating a correction magnetic field that cancels the environmental magnetic field input to the magnetic amorphous structure.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 6.
The magnetic field sensor device, wherein the environmental magnetic field canceling means is a coil having the core portion as an axis.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 6.
A magnetic field sensor device comprising adjustment means for controlling the environmental magnetic field canceling means so that the observation data falls within a desired range.
The magnetic field sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An observation means for observing a magnetic field including a magnetic field signal based on an output of a transmission source for generating an induced current over time;
Storage means for storing observation data observed by the observation means;
The observation data falls within a desired range based on a value obtained by integrating the observation data stored in the storage means in a period in which the integral value of the magnetic field signal based on the output of the transmission source for generating the induced current is zero. As described above, a magnetic field sensor device comprising correction means for correcting a reference value of the observation data.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 9.
The period in which the integrated value of the magnetic field signal based on the output of the induced current generating transmission source is 0 is a period that is an integral multiple of the output period of the induced current generating transmission source that outputs alternating direct current. Magnetic field sensor device.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 9.
Amplifying means for amplifying the output signal of the sensor unit;
The magnetic field sensor device, wherein the correction unit controls an offset amount of the amplification unit.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 9.
Including synchronization means for acquiring time data synchronized with the output of the induction current generating transmission source;
The storage means stores the observation data and the time data in association with each other.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 12,
The magnetic field sensor device, wherein the synchronization means acquires time data synchronized with an output of the induced current generation transmission source by acquiring time information included in GPS information.
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 9.
A stack for averaging a plurality of cycles of the observation data in the first half of the output cycle of the induced current generating transmission source that outputs alternating direct current and the data obtained by adding the sign inversion data of the observation data in the second half of the output cycle Including stack processing means for processing,
The magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the observation means ends the observation based on a noise level of the data after the stack processing.